Tornados Use Big Third Quarter to Defeat Pikeville College 20-17

Brevard, N.C. – The Brevard College men’s football team picked up their first win of the 2008 season on Saturday night, as the Tornados used a 13 point third quarter to defeat the Pikeville College Bears 20-17.

The win bumps the Tornados to 1-1 on the season, while Pikeville falls to 0-1 on the year.

The Tornados got on the board first midway through the first quarter, as BC capitalized on a Pikeville turnover. Pikeville punter Kyle Chilton had a snap sail over his head and toward the Tornados end zone and found himself chasing the loose ball along with a number of BC defenders. Chilton made a smart play and kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone, which is a penalty and gave the ball to the Tornados at the Pikeville eight yard line.

On the ensuing BC offensive possession, BC running back went scrambling through the Pikeville defense and scored from eight-yards out to put the Tornados on the board for the first time this season. After a Chase Henry extra point, the Tornados found themselves up 7-0 with 8:45 remaining in the first quarter.

Pikeville answered with a score of their own only four minutes later with their defense as BC quarterback Kye Hamilton had the ball fly out of his hands and into the air on a pass attempt. Pikeville defensive lineman Travis Norris grabbed the loose ball out of the air and rumbled 81 yards to the end zone for the touchdown. Chilton added an extra point to knot the score up at 7-7.

Chilton gave Pikeville the lead with 3:18 remaining in the first half, as he booted a 29-yard field goal through the uprights to give the Bears a 10-7 lead heading into the halftime break.

The third quarter saw the Tornados dominate the game, holding on to the ball for close to 11 minutes in the quarter, while also scoring 13 unanswered points over the 15 minute span.

Junior receiver Donald Hudson found the end zone early in the third quarter, as Hamilton connected with Hudson who made a diving catch for the ball in the end zone right down the middle of the Pikeville defense. The 36-yard touchdown pass, the longest play from the line of scrimmage through the air for the Tornados this season, put the Tornados up 14-7.

Two possessions later, the Tornados found the end zone again as Taylor busted through the right side of the line and then made a great cut back to the center of the field to go 44-yards for his second touchdown run of the game, capping off a five-play, 78-yard drive. The score gave the Tornados a 20-10 lead, their largest lead of the game, with 2:28 remaining in the third.

The Bears tried to make a comeback late in the fourth quarter, as running back De’Rail Sims caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dan Wideman to cut the Tornado lead to three at 20-17 with 3:44 remaining in the game.

However, the Tornados defense, which played well all game and forced the Bears to go away from the running game, came up big late as safety Trey Wilborn intercepted a Wideman pass deep in BC territory with 1:17 left in the game to help seal the 20-17 win for the Tornados.

Taylor led the offensive charge for BC, as the senior had 110 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns for the game. Fellow running back Desmond Wilson had 18 yards on eight attempts, while Hudson had 22 yards on three attempts.

Through the air, Hamilton was 11-of-20 for 93 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, as he connected with five different receivers. Hudson had four catches four 68 yards and a touchdown, while freshman Kyle Irby had three catches for 18 yards.

Defensively, the Tornados were led by freshman linebacker Prince Simunyu, who collected two solo tackles and seven assists for the game. Cornerback Shorick Johnson had four solo tackles and one assist to go along with two pass break-ups. Fellow defensive back Wilborn had an interception, while fellow safety Josh Durm had a fumble recovery.

For Pikeville offensively, Wideman was 21-of-40 for 188 yards, one interception and one touchdown. Receiver Nick Jamerson recorded six catches for 101 yards, while Justin Lamb had four catches for eight yards.

Pikeville’s Norris had one solo and two assist to go along with his interception and touchdown. Linebackers Tramayel Jones and Anson Cunningham led the way with a combined 13 tackles for the game.

The Tornados will hit the road for the first time in 2008 next Saturday, September 13, when BC will travel to Murfreesboro, N.C. to face off with Chowan University at 12 noon. Pikeville will be in action next Saturday, when they will take on Lambuth University at home with a start time slated for 1:30 p.m.